Down to a ‘T’ – in the company of Leonardo and Bowie

No, it’s not because I like to throw in a creative reference to everything I say and do (although…) but these two greats – Leonardo da Vinci, and David Bowie have prompted me to reflect on some of the amazing people I have had the privilege to work with, and why it was exciting to spend time in their company.

I think it was invariably because they were discernibly ‘t-shaped’.

‘T-shaped’ refer to individuals who have deep knowledge and expertise in one particular area, their in-depth expertise represented by the vertical stroke of the letter "T,"; while also having a broad understanding and openness to learning of, multiple other areas or domains, represented by the horizontal stroke of the letter "T."

It’s the best of both worlds, right? The in-depth expertise in a specific field or domain, gained through education, training, and practical experience – preferably brought to life with anecdotes and examples. A perfect partner-in-crime to solve complex problems, innovate, and create new solutions within their area of expertise.

But lo! That’s not all the goodies they bring to the party! The horizontal stroke of the T also represents the ability to communicate, collaborate, and work effectively with people from diverse backgrounds and across multiple disciplines. This breadth of knowledge and skills allows them to work effectively in interdisciplinary teams, apply their expertise to different contexts, and adapt to changing situations.

T-shaped people are highly valued in many fields, including technology, design, and business, because of their ability to bridge different domains and collaborate effectively. But more importantly, they are often the keystone to the team - adaptable, flexible, and able to learn and integrate new knowledge and skills quickly.

I have worked with software developers who have deep expertise in a specific technology, programming language or framework, but also has a broad understanding and appreciation of other areas such as service design, project management, and business strategy.

Their company is joyous. Their contribution is considered and collaborative.

I realised quite early on in my career that whilst specialist knowledge is great, knowing a fair bit about a few other things is not only more helpful, but much more interesting and exciting.

Which brings me back to Leonardo and Bowie – both, I would argue – as ‘T-shaped’ as you get!

Leonardo – the Renaissance artist, inventor, and polymath. His expertise in art, engineering, and science complemented and enhanced by anatomy, geology, and mathematics.

Bowie – his amazing music, pushing boundaries, experimenting with different genres. But, also a talented actor and visual artist, with a broad range of knowledge and skills in areas such as fashion, film, and performance art.

Inspirational, and due to their talent and diligence, a bit harder to pigeonhole.

And, while their talents seem a little stratospheric for us mere mortals, there’s things we can do to develop our ‘t-shape’.

  • Get the depth - develop expertise in a particular area. Be passionate and focused about the detail in your chosen field or domain.
  • Read, read, read. Learn from other disciplines and share your knowledge as you go. Think about issues or problems related to your domain area and how other specialisms may resolve them.
  • Play nicely. Practice collaborative working with people from diverse backgrounds – and listen to their perspectives.
  • Nosey’s not negative. Curiosity may have killed many cats but it’s critical in exploring new ideas. Ask questions, experiment, explore. Be willing to try new things and take on new challenges.
  • Be curious and open-minded. T-shaped people are constantly learning and exploring new ideas.

As both Leonardo and Bowie would tell you (if they could) that becoming ‘t-shaped’ is a lifelong process that requires a commitment to learning and growth. It’s no mean feat. But even if there are no Heroes, or another Mona Lisa doesn’t emerge, by focusing on developing both deep expertise in a particular area and also a broad range of knowledge and skills in other areas, you can become an invaluable contributor in any team or organisation (and would definitely make my ‘best team mate’ list).

Photo by Christina Radevich on Unsplash

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Julie Arbuthnott

Managing Consultant and Service Design Specialist

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